North Carolina extends from the Atlantic Ocean all the way west to the Great Smoky and Blueridge Mountains. This is where you'll find North Carolina's best camping.

Many of the campgrounds in North Carolina run along the Appalachian Scenic Trail, through the western part of the state. The Appalachian Trail runs almost the entire length of the country, from Maine to Georgia, and backpackers routinely walk sections or its entirety.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee and is home to some of the most interesting wildlife in America. An estimated 1,600 black bears live in the park as well as deer and elk and scientifically significant microorganisms.

The Great Smoky Mountains climate is typically mild in the winter and hot and very humid in the summer. The late fall and early spring is considered the best time to camp in the mountains, and campgrounds are generally open year round.

Because of the popularity of the Appalachian Trail and the tendency for campers to all head out on the same three day weekend that you choose, your best bet is to book a camp site online before you arrive at the campground. The Great Smoky Mountains park, meanwhile, is America's most visited park, bar none, and finding a space in a campground can get very competitive during the high seasons.

Your North Carolina camping trip should also include a trip to Kitty Hawk, where the Wright Brothers flew the world's first airplane in 1903. Today there stands a Wright Brothers Memorial just down the road from Kitty Hawk where their contribution to aviation and America is recognized.

North Carolina has several more National and State Parks that would be worth your time to explore on your camping trip through the state. Find out more about them here.